Toyota donates to Boys & Girls Club, Faith Haven

TUPELO – As a part of United Way’s Day of Caring and Toyota’s Team Member Volunteer Day, the auto manufacturing company announced donations totaling $35,000 to the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi and Faith Haven children’s shelter.
“It’s a core global value of Toyota to really give back to whereever we do business and we like to encourage our members to be involved in volunteerism,” said Doug Formby, vice president of production control and administration at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi. “Obviously, the organizations we’re a part of today, Faith Haven and the Boys & Girls Club, in Tupelo and New Albany, are three very important organizations and we want to acknowledge that and give back.”
The money will be split with $10,000 going to the operating budget of Faith Haven, $10,000 to the operating budget of the Boys & Girls Club of Northside and $15,000 to be used as a part of a grant to upgrade computers and games at the Boys & Girls Club in New Albany.
Zell Long, chief professional officer of the Boys & Girls Club of North Mississippi, said the money will make a solid dent in its $500,000 operating budget.
“It means a lot and we’re so grateful for our community partners – especially United Way and Toyota,” said Boys & Girls Club Unit Director Tonny Oliver. “Without their support we wouldn’t be able to provide our services.”
Katherine McKee, director of Faith Haven, said the $10,000 will help with the home’s annual $509,000 operating budget.
“It’s was very nice,” she said. “We don’t have any specific plans for it but we desperately need the money in our budget and it will help us in our day-to-day operations of the shelter.”
Toyota also sent volunteers to help paint the Boys & Girls Club and help around the house at Faith Haven.
jb.clark@journalinc.com